PoleSox

ABSTRACT

A protective cover and method of use thereof, used to reduce noise and wear as a result of contact of a boat against a piling, pole, or bumper of an associated boat lift. The cover is similar to a sock in structure and can be made from flexible fabrics or other flexible polymeric materials that are water proof or water impermeable. These materials can be decorative in nature with eye friendly indicia printed thereon. The protective cover can be made of UV resistant materials to reduce degradation under normal to extreme UV exposure and be made of materials that have sound dampening or sound absorbing characteristics, but have sound suppression or noise reduction properties that when rubbed against produce substantially low sound levels. In use, the protective cover is placed over a piling or vertical pole of a boat lift. The protective cover is preferably sized to engage and encapsulate that portion of the piling that is above the surface of the water and most likely to come into contact with the boat hull. After placement on the piling, the protective cover is firmly secured to the piling by suitable fastening members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to lifting devices for boats. Morespecifically, the invention pertains to protective covers used to reducenoise and wear as a result of contact of a boat against a piling orbumper of an associated boat lift.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

Boat lifts have been in existence for quite some time. Many boat ownersthat live adjacent lakes, rivers, or harbors, tend to keep their boatsmoored in water as a matter of convenience. However, in saltwater,marine organisms may foul the hull of boats, and in fresh or saltwater,the wakes of passing boats, high winds, and storm or tidal surges cancreate unwanted movement of a docked vessel. Consequently, the use of aboat lift reduces the damage and wear a boat can sustain as a result ofthese undesirable and adverse conditions.

Boat lifts typically have vertical poles that function as retainingbumpers or fenders. These poles are also commonly referred to as pilingsor logs, depending upon application and can be made of a variety ofmaterials. These poles may be fabricated from aluminum, othernon-corrosive metals, wood, PVC, foamed plastics or other polymericmaterials, and may or may not have protective coverings. A boat operatormay use the pilings as a guide when docking his or her boat, or as ameans to restrict movement of the boat during the aforementioned adverseconditions. When a boat is placed in a body of water, as by a boat lift,wave movement may cause the boat to float vertically or horizontallyagainst the pilings. The severity of this movement is commensurate withthe degree of wave movement. As the boat rubs against the pilings, it isnot uncommon to hear extremely loud squeaking or squealing sounds. Thesesounds are highly undesirable, especially when the boat user or usersare relaxing, over-nighting, sleeping, or working in or about the boatwhen so docked at a marina. Many boat owners may keep their boats atmarinas and choose to spend time staying on the boat at the marinainstead of travelling.

There have been attempts to reduce this noise associated with boats“rubbing” up against pilings. It is not uncommon at marinas to see“homemade” remedies that try to address these noise concerns. Thesehomemade remedies may come in the form of fastening fabric or towels topilings, secured thereto by duct tape, in an attempt at noise reductionor cancellation. Of course such homemade remedies tend to be unsightlyand more importantly, they tend to be extremely short lived.

2. Description of Related Art

An examination of the prior art of record discloses various “protective”covers, bumpers or guides used in the boat lift or marina arts. U.S.Pat. No. 4,653,420 to Johnson (herein “Johnson—420”), discloses aprotective cover for boat hoist bumpers formed of two pieces ofmaterial, which are designed to overlap and attach around a boat bumperto protect the bumper from impact forces that would damage the foamedmaterial from which the bumper is made. Johnson—420 fails to addressnoise concerns relative to wave movement impacted upon a boat that inturn rubs against any of the pilings or bumpers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,808to Clary (herein “Clary—808”), discloses four guide bumpers attached tothe top of a movable bed frame of a boat hoist, and used to support aboat when fixed thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,336 to Schmidt (herein“Schmidt—336”), discloses a docking support apparatus that is telescopicin nature and has an outer cover that prevents ice build-up duringfreezing conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,805 to Shackelford, Jr. (herein“Shackelford, Jr.—805”), discloses a boat lift having pairs of locatorpoles made of flexible PVC pipe or materials that do not damage boathulls and serve to direct the boat to its proper location relative tobunk boards. U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,229 to Fyfe et al (herein “Fyfe etal—229”), discloses a repair jacket made of fiber reinforced materialsthat serves to repair or reinforce wood pilings. U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,054to Sutton (herein “Sutton—054”) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,236 to Williamset al (herein “Williams et al—236”), discloses similar piling jackets tothose used in Fyfe et al—229. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,364 to Darder-Alomar(herein “Darder-Alomar—364”), discloses a protective fender having acushioning body attachable to dock posts and securable thereto byvarious fastening means. U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,157 to Macias (herein“Macias—157”), discloses a timber pile protection apparatus that iscomprised of a flexible sleeve made of a water impermeable material thatcan be rolled or unrolled about a timber piling so as to protect it fromorganisms that can attach and grow thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,030 toAshton et al (herein “Ashton et al—030”), discloses a composite wrappingthat reinforces a wood piling and protects against deterioration fromchemicals, weathering, and organisms. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,424to Hill (herein “Hill—424”), discloses a replaceable buoy cover or sockthat is used to provide indicia for marker buoys and protect buoys fromdeterioration without the need of removal from water.

None of the aforementioned prior art of record addresses the utility ofa noise suppression cover or sock that reduces or eliminates undesirablenoises and sound levels associated with boats rubbing up against boatlift pilings. In summary, the prior art seeks to protect pilings fromwater, organisms, and structural deficiencies, as well as protect boathulls from damage. What is needed is a means for suppressing soundsgenerated from movement of a boat against an associated piling or poleof a boat lift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a means by which high pitched undesirablesounds, i.e., squeaking or squealing, associated with the rubbing orengagement of a boat hull against a piling, bumper, or other structuralmember of a boat lift, are considerably reduced or eliminated. This canbe achieved by use of a noise suppression protective covering known asthe PoleSox. The PoleSox is a sock like structure made from flexiblefabrics or other flexible polymeric materials that are water proof orwater impermeable. These materials can be decorative in nature with eyefriendly indicia printed thereon. The PoleSox can be made of UVresistant materials to reduce degradation under normal to extreme UVexposure. More importantly, the PoleSox can be made of materials havingsound suppression or noise reduction properties that when rubbed againstproduce substantially low sound levels. These materials can have soundabsorbing or sound dampening characteristics and be fabricated fromnylons, cloths, foams, woven and non-woven fabrics, polyesters, otherpolymeric materials or combinations thereof. The PoleSox structure issimilar to that that of a tube sock having an open end and an opposedclosed end, the closed end being securable over and encapsulating a pileor pole structure of a boat lift. The PoleSox can vary in size relativeto the boat lift piling or associated structure to which it is attached,but is preferably (though not in any way limited to) 48 inches in lengthand 3 to 4 inches in diameter.

The PoleSox is closed at its top by circular pieces of fabric and openat the opposite end to slip over pilings, poles, and associatedstructure of the boat lift. This forms a tube that can be firmly securedto the boat lift pilings during normal use and easily removed forrepair, replacement, or cleaning. The PoleSox ideally is placed andsecured to a respective piling prior to a boat being placed on a lift.The PoleSox is first firmly secured to the associated piling/pole toprevent it from slipping off during engagement with the hull of theboat. Once the boat has been placed on the lift and placed in the water,adjustments to the PoleSox can be immediately made to insure that itwill not be unintentionally removed from the piling or pilings. Further,appropriate length assessments of the PoleSox can be made based upon thelength of piling that is above or below the water surface relative tothe height of the boat that extends above the water surface or thesection of boat hull most likely to engage one of the pilings. Afteroptimum locations and desired lengths of the PoleSox have beendetermined, a user of the water docked boat may now enjoy peace andquiet at more tolerable noise levels now that the PoleSox has beeninstalled, and thus reducing the high pitched undesirable sounds, i.e.,squeaking or squealing, associated with the rubbing or engagement of aboat hull against a piling, bumper, or other structural member of a boatlift,

The PoleSox offers a low cost, low maintenance, low stress means foractively enjoying boat life at marinas or wherever a boat lover may havehis or her serenity interrupted by unwanted and unsolicited noisesassociated with boat hulls rubbing up against pilings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the PoleSox cover on a pole or piling ofa boat lift.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the pattern components of thePoleSox.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing side pieces of the PoleSox attachedtogether.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the top pieces of the PoleSox prior toattachment with the body or lower piece.

FIG. 5 is a prior art illustration of a traditional boat lift.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the PoleSox (body) 9 shown as it isplaced on and encapsulates a vertical pole or piling 1 of a traditionalboat lift (not shown in FIG. 1). The PoleSox can be made of soundabsorbing or sound dampening materials having sound suppression or noisereduction properties that when rubbed against produce substantially lowsound levels. The PoleSox can be made from flexible fabrics or otherflexible polymeric materials that are water proof or water impermeable.The pilings may be fabricated from aluminum, other non-corrosive metals,wood, PVC, foamed plastics or other polymeric materials, and may or maynot have protective coverings.

FIG. 2. is a plan view showing pattern components of the PoleSox. Thesecomponents include interior portion 5, which can be made of non-abrasivematerials, such as a cloth fabric and exterior portion 6, which ispreferably made of water impermeable materials, UV resistant materialsthat reduce degradation under normal to extreme UV exposure, and canalso be decorative in nature with eye friendly indicia printed thereon.The PoleSox has a closed top comprised of circular pieces 7, 8 which canbe attached to portions 5 an 6 by means of stitching or other suitablemeans of attachment.

FIG. 3. shows interior portion 5 attached to exterior or decorativeportion 6 by means of stitching or other suitable means of attachment.Portion 5 is attached to portion 6 so that the outside of the decorativeportion is the exterior and a stitched seam (shown in shadow) is on theinside. PoleSox 9 is then shown in its tubular form.

FIG. 4. shows the tubular body of the PoleSox 9 ready to be attached tocircular portions 7 and 8. Portion 7 is similar to portion 5 infabrication materials and interior abutment against the pole 1. Portion8 is similar to portion 6 in that it is made of the same UV and waterimpermeable materials of portion 6. Portions 7 and 8 are attached to anunfinished circular end of body 9 by means of stitching or othersuitable means of attachment, so that the seams (shown in shadow) are onthe inside and decorative portions are on the outside.

In operation, the PoleSox is placed over a piling or vertical pole of aboat lift 3 (shown in FIG. 5). This can be performed prior to placementof the boat on the lift or after the boat is in the water. The PoleSoxis preferably sized to engage and encapsulate that portion of the pilingthat is above the surface of the water and most likely to come intocontact with the boat hull 4. After placement on the piling, the PoleSox is firmly secured to the piling by suitable fastening means, such asVELCRO™, snap fasteners, stitching, ties, or the like. The process maybe repeated for any number of pilings that are present on the boat lift3.

Once fabricated and installed for use, the PoleSox offers a novel meansof addressing squeaking or squealing noises associated with engagementof a boat hull with surrounding vertical pilings or other structuralcomponents of a boat lift. It will have a long life and be resistant towater and excessive exposure to UV light. Decorative indicia may beincluded in the form of a boat lover's favorite pet, favorite footballteam, or just about anything aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The above embodiments of the instant invention have been presented so asto not limit the invention to only those embodiments. It is contemplatedthat obvious variations, modifications, and improvements are within theskill of one familiar to relevant arts.

1. In combination: at least one protective cover and a boat lift, theboat lift comprising at least two vertical pilings and is adapted toreceive a boat thereon, wherein the boat lift provides a means forlifting of the boat in and out of a body of water, and the pilingsprovide a perimeter that limits horizontal movement of the boat when theboat is placed on the boat lift; the at least one protective covercomprising a flexible material that is water impermeable, ultra-violetlight resistant, and having sound reduction properties, the soundreduction properties providing a means for substantially reducing soundlevels associated with rubbing of the boat against uncovered pilingswhen the boat is on or adjacent the boat lift and in the body of water;and wherein the at least one protective cover is placed over a portionof the respective piling and secured firmly thereto by a fasteningmeans, and the at least one protective cover providing a sound reductionbarrier between the respective piling and the boat, which reduces oreliminates the sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat againstthe uncovered pilings.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the atleast one protective cover encapsulates the respective piling and issizable to accommodate pilings of various lengths.
 3. The combination ofclaim 1, wherein the pilings can be made of wood, metal, or polymericmaterials.
 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the pilings are madeof metal.
 5. The combination of claim 3, wherein the pilings are made ofpolymeric materials.
 6. The combination of claim 2, wherein the at leastone protective cover has an elongated interior portion that is made of anon-abrasive material that contacts a respective piling and an elongatedexterior portion that is ultra-violet light resistant, the two portionsbeing attachable to one another.
 7. The combination of claim 6, whereinthe at least one protective cover has a tube shape with open and closedends, the closed end formed of exterior and interior circular portionsthat are secured together and then attached to the elongated portions toform the tube shape, and the open end having the fastening means thereonso as to encapsulate the respective piling and be firmly securedthereto.
 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the exterior portionshave decorative indicia printed thereon.
 9. The combination of claim 1,wherein the flexible material has sound dampening or sound absorbingcharacteristics.
 10. A method of using a protective cover on a boatlift, the method comprising the steps of: providing a boat lift havingat least two vertical pilings and receiving a boat thereon, wherein theboat lift provides a means for lifting of the boat in and out of a bodyof water, and the pilings provide a perimeter that limits horizontalmovement of the boat when the boat is placed on the boat lift; providingat least two protective covers, each comprising a flexible material thatis water impermeable, ultra-violet light resistant, and having soundreduction properties, the sound reduction properties providing a meansfor reducing sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat againstuncovered pilings when the boat is on or adjacent the boat lift and inthe body of water; and placing the at least two protective covers over aportion of a respective piling so as to encapsulate the respectivepilings and firmly securing the protective covers to the respectivepilings by a fastening means, so that the at least two protective coversprovide a sound reduction barrier between the respective pilings and theboat, which reduces or eliminates the sound levels associated withrubbing of the boat against the uncovered pilings.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the at least two protective covers are sizable toaccommodate pilings of various lengths.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the at least two protective covers each have an elongatedinterior portion that is made of a non-abrasive material that contacts arespective piling and an elongated exterior portion that is ultra-violetlight resistant, the two portions being attachable to one another. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein the at least two protective covers eachhave a tube shape with open and closed ends, the closed end formed ofexterior and interior circular portions that are secured together andthen attached to the elongated portions to form the tube shape, and theopen end having the fastening means thereon so as to encapsulate therespective piling when placed thereon and firmly secured thereto. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the exterior portions have decorativeindicia printed thereon.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein theflexible material has sound dampening or sound absorbingcharacteristics.
 16. At least one protective cover for use with a boatlift comprising: a flexible material that is water impermeable,ultra-violet light resistant, made of sound dampening or sound absorbingmaterial, and having sound reduction properties, the sound reductionproperties providing a means for substantially reducing sound levelsassociated with rubbing of a boat against uncovered pilings of a boatlift when the boat is on or adjacent the boat lift and in a body ofwater; and wherein the at least one protective cover is placeable over aportion of a respective uncovered piling and secured firmly thereto by afastening means, and the at least one protective cover providing a soundreduction barrier between the respective uncovered piling and the boatthat reduces or eliminates the sound levels associated with rubbing ofthe boat against the uncovered piling.
 17. The cover of claim 16,wherein the at least one protective cover is sizable to accommodatepilings of various lengths.
 18. The cover of claim 17, wherein the atleast one protective cover has an elongated interior portion that ismade of a non-abrasive material that is adapted to contact a respectivepiling and an elongated exterior portion that is ultra-violet lightresistant, the two portions being attachable to one another.
 19. Thecover of claim 18, wherein the at least one protective cover has a tubeshape with open and closed ends, the closed end formed of exterior andinterior circular portions that are secured together and then attachedto the elongated portions to form the tube shape, and the open endhaving the fastening means thereon for encapsulating the uncoveredpiling when placed thereon and firmly secured thereto.
 20. The cover ofclaim 19, wherein the exterior portions have decorative indicia printedthereon.